The first day of the Democratic national convention is tied up with a bow. Here’s what happened:

Supporters of senator Bernie Sanders started with boos and ended in tears as their candidate took the stage and urged them to vote for Hillary Clinton, saying she “must become the next president of the United States”.

The big question of the night – can the Democrats unify behind their candidate? – appeared unresolved at night’s end, with even core Sanders ally Elizabeth Warren facing heckles and chants from Sanders backers.

The roiling emotions in the convention hall added to the suspense of Clinton’s anticipated speech Thursday, and what it will mean for the party. It appeared possible that the candidate may face waves of booing even as she claims the nomination.

But there were highlight moments, notably in a powerfully personal speech by first lady Michelle Obama, that pointed to a different possibility – to a Democratic party that leaves Philadelphia with new energy and something resembling unity.

Significant ice in the hall between the Sanders and (much larger) Clinton camps was broken by comedian Sarah Silverman, who advised: “To the ‘Bernie or Bust’ people, you’re being ridiculous.”

Another notable speech came from senator Cory Booker, whose optimistic refrain “America will rise” pulled the crowd repeatedly to its feet.

Before the marquee speakers took the stage, the convention seemed in danger of succumbing to forces of dissent and even scandal. The dissent was embodied by pro-Sanders demonstrators in the streets and inside the hall, where they interrupted the opening prayer with chanting. The scandal came thanks to the star-crossed Democratic national committee, whose chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, resigned Sunday in fallout from an emails leak that showed top party officials arrayed against Sanders.

Hours before the curtain went up, Wasserman Schultz announced she was also abdicating her ceremonial convention duties, and would not gavel the event to order.

That wasn’t all bad news. It set up a star turn by fill-in-gaveler Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the mayor of Baltimore, who initially forgot to pound the gavel and had to run back to the lectern to do so:

Sanders launches new group: 'Our Revolution'

Bernie Sanders has sent an email to supporters announcing a new political vehicle. The email reads in part:

Our work will continue in the form of a new group called Our Revolution.The goal of this organization will be no different from the goal of our campaign: we must transform American politics to make our political and economic systems once again responsive to the needs of working families.

Sanders: 'I am proud to stand with her'

As the end nears of this epic day at the Democratic convention, Sanders wins applause and cheers for lines that would have drawn layers of booing seven hours ago:

I have known Hillary Clinton for 25 years. I remember her as a great first lady who broke precedent in terms of the role that a first lady was supposed to play as she helped lead the fight for universal health care. I served with her in the United States Senate and know her as a fierce advocate for the rights of children.

Hillary Clinton will make an outstanding president and I am proud to stand with her here tonight.

Sanders’ hand gestures here when he enunciated “significant coming together” were priceless. He was showing them what needed to happen:

It is no secret that Hillary Clinton and I disagree on a number of issues. That’s what this campaign has been about. That’s what democracy is about. But I am happy to tell you that at the Democratic Platform Committee there was a significant coming together between the two campaigns and we produced, by far, the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party.

Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS)

This is crucial. Sanders is vouching for the post-primary process, saying it produced real results. And he's right.